Clamping device.



J. HUBER CLAMPING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION 111111111111111 1.

5 E W A 25 l 22% WITNESSES ATTORNEYS J'dSEPH HUBER, OFSAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

CLAMPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

f atented Apr.1,1913.

Application filed August '11, 1911. Serial at. 643,488.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn HUBER, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Saginaw, in the county of Saginaw and have invented a newState of Michigan, and Improved Clamping Device, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to clamping devices for use in hanging picturesor other articles, and has reference more'part-icularly to thecombination with a picture wire or other flexible member adapted to beattached to the picture or other article to be hung, of a clampingdevice by means of which the efi'ective attachment between the pictureand the flexible member can be varied to vary correspondingly theangularity with the horizontal, of the article when it is hung.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive anddurable clamping device which can be used with ordinary pic- ,ture wireor any other flexible member for hanging pictures or other articles frommoldings or other suitable supports, which permits the effective lengthof the wire to be adjusted as necessary, which furthermore, permits theangularity with which the picture rests against the wall or othersupport be varied as de-' upon which it is hung to sired, which can bemanipulated with ease and rapidity, which can be inexpensivelyproduced,and which will not mar or injure the wall or the picture. A

The invention conslsts 1n the construction and combination of parts tobe more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth-in theclaim.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation showing an embodiment of my invention applied to a picture,for hanging the same from a hook upon a wall; Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing a picture in a position of different angularity; Fig. 3 is arear elevation of a pic ture having an embodiment of my inventionapplied thereto; Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the clampingdevice which I employ; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the clampingdevice; and Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the clamping device.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, itshould be clearly understood that while I have illustrated the device asapplied to a picture and picture frame, it can also be advantageouslyemployed for hanging other articles, or for other analogous purposes.

Certain of the details of construction shown for example herewith, formno part of the invention and can be varied in accordance with individualpreference and special condition, without deviating from the essence ofthe invention as defined in the appended claim.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have shown for example,api'cture 10 having the usualornamental frame 11 which includes the back12. Attached to the back of the frame, near the upper edge thereof,

by means of screws 13, eyelets, staples, or any other suitable means, isa flexible member 14 which preferably consists of the usual picturewire. The frame of the picture, at the sides, and somewhat below thecenter, has additional screws 15. The necessary length of the-wire isfirst determined, and the superfluous amount of the same is wound uponthe screws 15, so that in effect, the runs or lengths 16 of the wirebetween the screws 13 and 15 are elongated members ifitiiffited ft theback of the picture. These elongated members have clamping devices 17adjustably mounted thereon, which will be described hereinafter. Theloop or' length of the wire between the screws 15, is usedto hang thepicture from the picture hook 18 or other suitable support, to permitthe picture to depend in the usual manner against a wall 19.

The clamping device 17 comprises a body 20 of substantially sphericalcurvature, and having a flat face 21. Three openings 22, which areapproximately parallel, are provided in'the body of the member, and havebeveled outer edges 23 so that the runs of the flexible member whichpass through these openings will not be injured by sharp edges. .Thebody has a further opening or tightly against the flexible member ex-'tending through the opening 22 in question, to clamp the device securelyat any desired point of the flexible member. The edges of the set screwand of the body at the face 21 are rounded or beveled, as is shown inFig. 5, so that the head, which is of spherical curvature andcomplementary to the body, can readily be screwed or unscrewed manually.

A clamping device is movably mounted upon each run 16 of the flexiblemember, which is received in the lower opening 22. The other run of theflexible member, that is, the length by means of which the picture ishung, is received in one or the other of the upper openings 22. It willbe under-.

stood that each. clamping device can be used at either side of thepicture frame. If the picture is to be hung at a considerable angle, asis shown in Fig. 2, the clamping devices are arranged near the lowerends of the runs 16. On the other hand, if the picture is to be hung ata more acute angle, or nearly parallel to thewall, the arrangement isthat shown in Fig. 1-. Intermediate positions of the clamping devicespermit the arrangement of the picture at more or less aeuteangles.

By extending the opening or bore 24 all the way through the bodyand-intersecting the opening 22, the wire can be-secur'ely clamped bymeans of the set screw against the edges of the opening 24, as is shownin Fig. 6. I

The general effect of theclamping device is spherical, and its smoothand round surface will not tend to injure either the wall or the pictureframe.

The clamping device is preferably formed from metal of suificienthardness, and may be of different sizes to suit various uses.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent: 1

A clamping device having a body of substantially spherical curvature andprovided with a flat face, said body having a plurality of openingstherethrough and a further opening disposed transversely of said firstopenings and intersecting only one of the same, said further openinghaving a threaded portion, 'and a set screw mounted in .said threadedportion of said opening and having ,a head adapted to seat at said flatface ofsaid body, said head being of spherical curvature.

,In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH HUBER.

Witnesses:

ANTON Dmsnnn,

P. P. HALLER.

